OREANDA-NEWS. Alps Electric affiliate Alps (China) Co., Ltd. opened the Wuxi R&D Center on December 5, 2013. The principal objectives of the R&D center's establishment are strengthening of local development and design functions and enhancement of technical support to customers in China. The center will begin full operations in January 2014.

The newly established Wuxi R&D Center was created by separating the engineering function from Chinese affiliate Wuxi Alps Electronics Co., Ltd. and making it a branch location of regional core company Alps China, which coordinates Alps Electric's affiliates in China. By doing this Alps Electric aims to bolster design and development and technical support capabilities in China.

Specifically, the facility will advance local design and development of switches, connectors, camera actuators and other components, as well as provide customer support, mainly for Chinese smartphone manufacturers, which are currently enjoying rapid growth.

The center will also take steps to generate new business in China, for example by targeting the "Wulianwang" ubiquitous Internet of Things social infrastructure project being strategically promoted by the Chinese Government with sensor network modules integrating sensors and RF products.

In June 2011, Alps China established its Dalian R&D Center to advance local design of products for automotive use. The opening of the Wuxi R&D Center now means Alps China has functions on-hand for designing products for both the automotive and consumer markets in China.

Following on from the completion of the R&D center at Alps Electric Korea Co., Ltd. in April, the establishment of the Wuxi R&D Center further enhances Alps Electric's engineering functions in the Greater China area and picks up the pace of "Customer In" initiatives allowing a quicker response to customer needs. These new facilities highlight the progress made by Alps Electric in developing a global engineering network.